Formation of Vinblastine in Multiple Shoot Culture of Catharanthus roseus

Abstract

Vinblastine, a clinically useful antitumor alkaloid, was isolated from a multiple shoot culture induced from seedlings of Catharanthus roseus (L). G. Don and identified by mass spectrometry and proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectral analysis. The level of the alkaloid in the culture was about 15 µg/g dry weight, much more than in callus culture. Vinblastine was mostly found in the leaf tissue of the culture. Production of this alkaloid and morphological characteristics have been maintained during repeated subculture for a long time. The results suggest that the production of vinblastine is closely associated with morphological differentiation.